In 1940, in German-occupied Poland, the Nazis opened their concentration camp at Auschwitz.

In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled schoolchildren could not be compelled to salute the flag of the United States if doing so conflicted with their religious beliefs.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed an order adding the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 1982, Argentine forces surrendered to British troops on the disputed Falkland Islands.

In 1985, the 17-day hijack ordeal of TWA Flight 847 began as a pair of Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists seized the jetliner shortly after takeoff from Athens, Greece.

Ten years ago: Stephen Yokich was elected president of the United Auto Workers at the union’s triennial convention in Anaheim, Calif.

Five years ago: In the biggest step toward peace since the end of the Korean War, the leaders of North and South Korea signed an agreement pledging to work for reconciliation and eventual reunification. The Southern Baptist Convention declared that women should no longer serve as pastors.

One year ago: A car bomb exploded during rush hour on a busy street in Baghdad, killing 12 people — five of them foreigners working to rebuild Iraq’s power plants. The Supreme Court allowed schoolchildren to keep affirming loyalty to one nation “under God,” but dodged the underlying question of whether the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional blending of church and state.

Thought for Today: “There is the National flag. He must be cold, indeed, who can look upon its folds rippling in the breeze without pride of country. If in a foreign land, the flag is companionship, and country itself, with all its endearments.” — Charles Sumner, American author (1811-1874).